Protester Gypsy Taub speaks out against the Board of Supervisors decision to ban public nakedness at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Protester Gypsy Taub speaks out against the Board of Supervisors decision to ban public nakedness at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

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Protester Gypsy Taub is covered up by a San Francisco Sheriff after taking off her clothes at a Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. San Francisco lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposal to ban public nakedness, rejecting arguments that the measure would eat away at a reputation for tolerance enjoyed by a city known for flouting convention and flaunting its counter-culture image. The 6-5 Board of Supervisors vote means that exposed genitals will be prohibited in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit. less

Protester Gypsy Taub is covered up by a San Francisco Sheriff after taking off her clothes at a Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. San Francisco lawmakers on ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Image 3 of 5

Taylor Whitfield holds up a sign protesting the Board of Supervisors proposal to ban public nakedness at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. San Francisco lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposal to ban public nakedness, rejecting arguments that the measure would eat away at a reputation for tolerance enjoyed by a city known for flouting convention and flaunting its counter-culture image. The 6-5 Board of Supervisors vote means that exposed genitals will be prohibited in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit. less

Taylor Whitfield holds up a sign protesting the Board of Supervisors proposal to ban public nakedness at City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. San Francisco lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

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A naked protester sits on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. San Francisco lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposal to ban public nakedness, rejecting arguments that the measure would eat away at a reputation for tolerance enjoyed by a city known for flouting convention and flaunting its counter-culture image. The 6-5 Board of Supervisors vote means that exposed genitals will be prohibited in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transit. less

A naked protester sits on the steps of City Hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. San Francisco lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposal to ban public nakedness, rejecting arguments that the ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Image 5 of 5

Public nudity ban passed by the Board of Supervisors

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Nudists will need to cover up or limit where they show their bare buns after the Board of Supervisors voted 6-5 to pass a ban on public nudity.

Public plazas will soon be off limits to naked people. (Brant Ward/The Chronicle)

Supervisors Jane Kim, John Avalos, Eric Mar, Christina Olague and David Campos voted to oppose the ban. Campos argued that police resources could better be spent fighting violent crime, instead of tracking down naked men roaming the streets. Other supervisors argued the ban seemed to infringe on people’s right to express themselves and was merely a problem in a Castro that didn’t need a citywide ban.

The ban still requires a second vote by the board and approval by the mayor, but if all happens as expected, the ban could go into effect Feb. 1.